Page 39 of The Surrender (Arlington Hall #2)

Jude drops his napkin on his half-eaten plate. “How about I show you the nightclub that’s named after her?”

He avoids my questioning look, standing, and keen to discover more of Arlington Hall, both my parents stand too, finishing their drinks as they do.

“Wonderful,” Mum says as Jude walks them out and I follow. “Oh, I wish your grandma was here to see this.”

“It’s a shock enough that you are,” I counter sardonically.

“But it all worked out in the end, didn’t it?” She looks over her shoulder to me, her grin impish.

“Yes, I suppose so.” I watch Jude point out various things to Dad as we walk.

“The golf course is out the back there,” Jude tells him as we wander through one of the glass corridors. “Eighteen holes.”

“A golf course!” Dad looks back at me. “Why in the heck would you buy me lessons somewhere else if Jude has eighteen holes?”

I give Jude a tired look when he chuckles. “You’re grumbling about me dating a man who lives in another county because it’s too far, but you’re happy to travel for golf?”

“I don’t know where she gets her sarcasm from,” Dad muses, making Jude smile mildly. “It certainly isn’t me.”

“You’re welcome on the course anytime.”

“You know, I might take you up on that offer.”

“I had no idea how serious this was, Amelia,” Mum says quietly. “I’m so happy for you. But you really do need to be honest with Nick.”

The thought doesn’t thrill me at all. “I just need to find the right time and the right words. I can’t just text him.”

“I understand. And does Jude know about him?”

“Oh, he knows.” I laugh, but not in humour. Mum casts me a sideways, curious look. “Never mind.” I link arms with her. “Wait until you see Evelyn’s.”

We walk through the lobby, and Mum stops at the portrait. “Oh my, is this her, Jude? Your mother?”

“Yes, that’s her. Evelyn Harrison,” Jude says, observing his mother for a beat. “She passed away shortly after this portrait was painted.”

“Do you mind telling me how she died?”

Oh Jesus. I throw Jude an apologetic look that he catches, shaking his head lightly. “I think it’s what the romantics call a broken heart.” He’s visibly swallowing hard.

“And your father?”

“Shall we?” Jude asks, completely ignoring Mum’s not-so-subtle pressing of the cause of his father’s death.

“Oh, yes, of course. I need the bathroom.” Mum looks around. “Do you mind?”

“Just through there on the right.” Jude points the way. “We’ll wait for you here.”

Mum leaves, Dad wanders across to a nearby coffee table, instantly happy to see the Financial Times on it, and Jude acts like he’s not just shut my mum down.

Not that she should be asking such personal, sensitive questions, but still.

Because I know what I know, the questions I thought were explained suddenly feel open again.

“What?” Jude asks when he catches me observing him.

“Did you and your father get along?”

“Yes, like a house on fire.” He slips an arm around my shoulder.

So he’s just mad at him for dying? “I’m struggling to unders—”

“This is nice,” he says, squeezing me tighter. “Me, you, your parents.”

My parents. Because I have parents. And Jude does not. Empathy suddenly won’t allow me to push him. And I would be wholly insensitive if I demanded more information. If there’s even more to know. Is there more to know? I just get the feeling there’s more to it, more he’s not telling me.

“It’s really nice,” I reply, pushing my wondering away for now. “So we’re taking my parents clubbing?” I hold his hand where it’s draped over my shoulder.

“Looks like it.” Jude chuckles as Anouska walks through the glass doors. He spots her and releases me. “Give me a second.” He goes to her, and she falls into stride beside him, both walking slowly, talking quietly.

I take the opportunity to search for Mum to make sure she’s not gotten lost, finding her in the ladies’, her phone held up in front of her. “You should see it!”

“Who are you talking to?” I ask.

Mum whirls around, looking guilty. “Oh, oh, um, no one.”

“Is that Amelia?” Grandma’s voice fills the room.

“Mother!” I scold her, pursing my lips and taking the phone from her hand, seeing Grandma’s ear on the screen. “Grandma, you’re on FaceTime.”

“Oh?” She appears, her face close. “Ah, how lovely to see you, Grand Girl.”

“And you,” I reply, giving Mum a pointed look.

“I wanted to show your grandma around.”

“Another time. You’ve just met him.” I go back to Grandma. “Mum will see you tomorrow.”

I hang up and collect my mother, steering her back to the lobby before she can go AWOL again. “Will you be normal?”

“I’m just so excited! Do you know the last time I had a cocktail in the afternoon?”

I look at her, observing. “Are you drunk?”

“Maybe just a little.”

I walk her through to the lobby and find my father, watching him for a few moments, seeing him swaying. “Oh God,” I breathe.

I release Mum and let Dad take over, both of them wandering off as Jude joins me again. “They’re tipsy. They didn’t even get tipsy at Clark’s wedding.”

“It’s nice.” Jude slips his arm around my shoulders. “They’re enjoying themselves.”

I watch them a few paces ahead, arms linked, steadying each other. “Thank you for doing this.”

“Well, I’d rather have you in bed, licking champagne off your body, but needs must.” He eyes me cheekily. “Has your ex been in touch any more?”

I shake my head.

“Aren’t you worried your dad will tell him about me?”

I stop him walking, my head hurting. “Why the concern about Nick all of a sudden?”

“I’m not concerned.” His voice is soft as he takes my hands. “Can you give me the heads-up when you intend to tell him?”

“What? Why?”

“So I can be prepared.”

“Like I was prepared for Katherine?” I ask, failing to remove the sarcasm from my tone.

The rolling jaw’s back. I’m a master at spiking it, which is a joke in itself. “Let’s not be petty.”

“You don’t need to worry about retaliation from Nick.”

Jude scoffs. “I’m not worried about retaliation.”

“Then why the big deal?”

“It’s no big deal.”

I stand back on a small smile. “Are you worried he’ll convince me to go back to him?”

“Really, Amelia? I just want us to communicate, and I know it won’t be nice for you. I want to support you.”

“Wow.”

“Shut up.” He frames my face with his hands and smacks a kiss on my lips. “Let’s take your parents clubbing.”

I laugh loudly, freeing myself of Jude’s clutches as my phone rings. “It’s Clark. Mind?”

“Sure.” Jude takes the opportunity to make his own call, wandering off a few paces.

“Hey,” I say when I’ve answered. “Are you back?”

“Just pulling out of Heathrow.”

“Was it amazing?”

“Stunning. Where are you?”

“At Arlington Hall.”

“Of course.”

“With Mum and Dad.”

“What?”

I look at Jude. He’s frowning down at his mobile. “Yeah, they showed up. Dad’s become all passive, given Jude the dad talk, and everything seems ... well, lovely, actually.”

“The dad talk?”

“Did you know he only liked Nick because he was wet?”

Clark laughs hard. “He admitted that?”

“Yes, he admitted it. He also confessed that he doesn’t want to lose me to another man.” Jude’s frown is stretching by the second.

“God love that old goat. So you had lunch?”

“Yes, and now we’re taking them clubbing.” Mum and Dad round the corner towards Evelyn’s.

“Come again?”

“They’ve had a few cocktails each. We’re taking them to Evelyn’s.”

“I’m on my way.”

“What?”

“I need to see this. I’m diverting up the M40. See you soon.” Clark hangs up, and I make my way to Jude, who is still frowning, his head tilting as he moves his phone around, checking the screen at different angles. “What’s up?”

He clears the screen quite speedily. “Nothing.”

“Then why do you look like something is up?”

“Nothing’s up.” He waves a hand flippantly. “Just some irritating supplier issues that I shouldn’t be dealing with on a Saturday.” His hand finds mine. “Sorry, I was distracted.”

“It’s fine. I thought something was wrong.”

“Ready?”

“You get the pleasure of my brother and sister-in-law too.”

“What?”

“Clark’s just arrived back at Heathrow from his honeymoon. He doesn’t want to miss the opportunity of seeing our drunk parents clubbing.”

“Yay. A family reunion.”

I elbow him in the side, making his torso fold, and let him lead us into Evelyn’s.

It was a joke. My clubbing references. Except Mum and Dad are God knows how many cocktails deep now, and both are on the dance floor in Evelyn’s getting their groove on to Joris Voorn and Nathan Nicholson. I’m fucking staggered.

“What the fuck?” Clark breathes, finding us at the bar, his eyes on our parents on the floor.

“Yeah, what the fuck?” Rachel mimics, seeming mesmerised by the sight.

“They’re having fun.” Jude offers a hand to Rachel. “Jude Harrison.”

Rachel cocks me a sideways smile. “I’ve heard lots about you. I’m Rachel.”

“Congratulations.”

Rachel’s hand instantly goes to her stomach as she shoots me a shocked look. “I can’t believe you told him.”

“I didn’t.” My lips straighten. “He was talking about your recent vows.”

“Oh.”

“You’re pregnant?” Jude says.

“Shhhh,” we all hiss, checking the whereabouts of our parents. We’re safe; they’re in a full-blown dance trance.

“Well, congratulations on that too,” Jude says, before putting his mouth to my ear. “Sounds disgusting.”

I laugh and nudge him. “Stop it.”

“Thanks.” Clark shakes Jude’s hand. “Nice to see you again. When I’m vertical and not bent backwards over a bar with my throat in your clench.”

Jude visibly cringes. “Again, my apologies. What can I get you to drink?”

“Water. I’m driving, and she’s expecting.” Clark turns back towards the floor. “I can’t believe what I’m seeing.”

“Me either.” I join him, observing our parents. “In fact, today has been a constant string of what-the-fuck moments.” And like a sick omen, right on cue, Katherine walks into the club. “What the fuck?” I breathe, watching as she scans the space.

“I’ll deal with this.” Jude passes us fast, urgent, and goes to Katherine, guiding her back out of the club.

“Who’s that?” Rachel asks.

“No one.” I knock my drink back, my eyes burning from staring at the entrance as I half-heartedly listen to Clark and Rachel tell me about their honeymoon.

“And then I had a full-body massage which involved a very happy ending, and, bonus, Rach could watch.”

I blink and look at my brother. “What the fuck?”

“Yeah, you’re right, the what the fuck s just keep coming today, don’t they?” Clark points to the entrance. “Who is she?”

“Jude’s ex,” I say quietly. “And you think Nick’s finding it hard to let go.”

“Oh, shit.”

“She spews venom like a premenstrual spitting cobra.”

“Go. I can tell you want to.”

“I want to but don’t.” I can feel my feet lifting, readying to take me there, but my head, the sensible part, is warning against it. “Fuck it.” I pass Clark my half-empty glass. “Back in a minute.”

I pace across the club and push my way out the doors to the outside area, where a few people are smoking.

Jude’s on the far side, Katherine opposite him, arms folded, looking as indignant as a woman could look.

“I swear,” Jude hisses, “if I find out you had anything to do with it, I’ll ruin you, do you hear me? ”

Katherine laughs. It’s condescending as fuck. “You seem to be forgetting one small detail, Jude,” she counters, leaning in. But then she spots me and backs off again. “Ah, here she is, the girlfriend .” Her eyes drop down my sports top and leggings. “You’re hardly dressed for the occasion.”

“And what’s the occasion?” I ask.

“He’s getting to know the parents.” Katherine smiles. “This really is serious.” She turns her steely eyes onto Jude again. “But how well are they getting to know you, Jude?”

“What does that mean?” I ask, approaching.

“Jude’s never been serious with women.”

“That’s because none of them were Amelia,” he snaps. “Including you.” He puts his arm around me and leads me away. “Fuck off home to your husband, Katherine, and leave me the hell alone.”

Then he places a kiss in my hair, and I can’t help but think he’s pacifying me. “What did she mean, how well are they getting to know you?”

“She means what she says. Katherine has some warped notion that no one knows me better than her.”

“Because you were engaged,” I murmur.

Jude stops me, putting himself in front of me, holding the tops of my arms. “Stop it,” he warns. “Stop letting her get under your skin.”

I sigh. “You need to tell her to leave.”

“I know,” he says. “But like you do with Nick, I have to choose my moment.”

God damn him. “Nick’s not making you miserable.”

Jude laughs, pinching the bridge of his nose, seeming to take in air and patience. Does he disagree?

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing.” His chest expands, his breath deep. “Come on, it’s been a lovely afternoon and evening. Let’s not spoil it now.” He collects me and walks us back inside.

“She denied scratching my car, didn’t she?”

“Yes,” he says, flat and clipped. “I think I might need to find a room for your parents tonight.” And just like that, the conversation is over. I exhale, fucked off with myself for feeling so irritated. “And tell me we can book our break tomorrow.”

“We can book our break tomorrow,” I confirm quietly, feeling a bit deflated. My mum and dad are still lost in the music, and probably their tenth cocktail now.

“Hey.” Jude nudges me in the side. “Snap out of it. Everything will be okay.”

I force a smile, and it’s an effort.

Because something doesn’t feel right, and I can’t put my finger on what.